Pencil-sharpener.



No. 662,788. Patented Nov. 27, |900. C. F, HESS. PENGIL SHARPENER.

(Applieation led May 19, 1900.)

um Model.)

with @raras Parlant tric.'

CLARKE F. IIESS, OF FERNWOOI), PENNSYLVANIA.

rENom-sl-mnesnea.

SPECFGATION forming part of Letters Paten-t No. 662,788, dated November27, 1900.

Application filed May 19, 1900. Serial No. 17,261. (No model.)

To tI/f whom, it may concern.

Be it known thatl, CLARKE F. HEss, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fernwood, Delaware county, Pennsylvania, have inventedcertain Improvements in Pencil- Sharpeners, of which the following is aspeciiication.

My invention consists of an improved peneil-Sharpener provided with apivoted knife and adapted to be carried and operated by one hand of theuser.

My invention further consists of a special Iform of frame 'for theSharpener, whereby I am enabled to cheapen the cost of manufacture andproduce a device of greater utility than heretofore.

My invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inWhich- Figure l is a perspective View of my improved pencil-Sharpener,showing the inanner in which the same is operated to sharpen a pencil.Fig. 2 is a plan view of my improved pencil-Sharpener. Fig. 3isasectional view on the line d d, Fig. 2; and Fig. ais a view inelevation of my pencil-sharpener, showing modifications of details ofthe same.

The main object of my invention is to provide a pencil-Sharpener thatWill be easy of operation and accomplish the desired result and whichmay be carried and operated by one hand of the user, the pencil beingheld by the other hand in the proper position to be sharpened, a furtherobject of my invention being to produce a pencil-Sharpener as cheaply aspossible.

In carrying out myV invention l make the frame of the pencil-Sharpenerfrom a single piece of sheet metal. This frame has a portion l, adaptedto fit over the thumb of the right hand of the user, and a funnel-shapedcasing 2 for the insertion of the pencil. This funnel-shaped casing is`provided with a slot 3, through which a portion of the pencil mayproject to be out off by the knife 4, said knife t being pivoted to theflat portion 5 of the frame at t'. The knife ft is provided with thecutting edge 7, as clearly shown in Figs. l and 2, this edge serving toshave or cut away the portion of the pencil projecting through the slot3 of the casing 2.

As before noted, the portion 1 of the frame is adapted to be carried bythe thumb of the right hand of the user, and, as shown in Fig. l, theknife may be moved by the forefinger of this hand. To enable this actionto be readily accomplished, the knife is provided with a handle S,having an open or concaved portion 9 to receive the end of theforefinger, whereby proper leverage may he maintained. As the knife issimply pivoted to the frame, it may be swung entirely free of the sainewhen it is desired to sharpen the knife.

The portion l of Jthe frame adapted to lit over the thumb of the user isfree at one portion, as'shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that it may beenlarged or contracted in diameter to accommodate the dilferent-sizedthumbs of the users. f

In some instances I may form with the frame a guide l0 for theknife-such, for instance, as is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1 whichguide serves also as a stop to limit the movement of the knife duringthe cutting operation. The guide is not essential, however; but I findthat it is desirable to limit the movement of the knife, and for thispurpose I prefer to turn upa portion of the metal frame to form a stopll, clearly shown in Figs. l and 2.

I prefer to form the frame of my' pencil- Sharpener from a single pieceof sheet metal, a cross-section of such frame being clearly shown inFig. 3. It will be noticedin forming the frame from a single piece ofsheet metal that I provide the portions l and 2 in close contact witheach other, and in order to lock these'portions together and prevent theflat portion of the frame from separating the short bends are brought toa sharp edge and in contact with each other, as shown at 12in Fig. 3.This arrangement will serve to lock these parts of the frame in place;but as an additional precaution solder may be run between the flat bendsof the frame. flat portion 5 will be stiffened, providing a firm supportfor the knife.

By making the pencil Sharpener as described herein and shown in theaccompanyingv drawings I provide a neat compact article that willeffectually serve the purpose for which it has been designed and whichis composed of few partsin point of fact only three-viz., the frame, theknife, and the pivot-pin connecting the knife to the frame.

Thus the l IOO Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patentl. The combination in a pencil-Sharpener, of theframe having an integral and exible portion adapted to the thumb of thehand, and an integral part forming a receptacle for the pencil, saidreceptacle providing for the projection of a portion of the pencil, anda knife pivoted at one end of the frame and serving to cut the pencil,said knife having a handle at the opposite end whereby it may beoperated by the foreinger of the hand and being free to swing clear ofthe frame so that. it may be sharpened when necessary, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a pencil-sharpener, a frame having an integral and flexibleportion adapted to the thumb of the hand, an integral portion to receivethe pencil, said latter portion having a slot or opening through whichthe pencil may project, and a Hat portion between the thumb-piece andthe pencil-receptacle, in combination with a knife pivoted to the datportion of the frame and adapted to be moved across said flat portion toout the projecting part of the pencil, substantially as described.

3. The combination in a pencil-Sharpener,

-of an approximately cylindrical and flexible receptacle adapted toreceive the thumb of the hand, a conical pencil-receptacle, a flatportion integral with and joining said receptacles, a knife pivoted tothe fiat portion of the frame and movable across the surface of thesame, and a stop and guide for the knife formed by a bent-up portion ofsaid frame, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CLARKE F. HESS.

Witnesses:

MURRAY C. BOYER, Jos. H. KLEIN.

